Nicklaus Children's Patients Benefit All Year From Record-Breaking Donations During Spread Joy Toy Drive

Published on: 01/17/2020

The community was especially generous during the holiday season’s Spread Joy Toy Drive sponsored by Navarro. More than 32,000 items were donated—nearly three times the number of toys donated the previous year—with a value of more than $800,000.

The 147 children admitted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital on Christmas Day woke up to a bag full of individually wrapped toys selected for each child’s age and interests. The remaining toys have been stored and will be used to help celebrate every patient’s birthday throughout 2020.

This year, the “hot” items were 24-pack crayon packages, Hot Wheels car sets, Connect 4 games and Avengers puzzles.

One of the reasons for the large increase in donations may be that toy drive volunteers more than doubled this year, with 112 individuals hosting events, collecting toys, wrapping toys and staffing the drop-off locations.

Our patients need and depend on the generosity of others all year long, not just during the holiday season. Help spread joy throughout the year by joining Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Monthly Giving Circle. By investing in the health and happiness of children on a monthly basis, you can positively impact the lives of children and their families every day.

Make a monthly gift that will bring better health to our children and give you the deep satisfaction in knowing your gift is making the difference in the life of a child.


About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most (2024)

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

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